The smell of rotting fish came first,
centuries of smells hauled from the sea.

Then came the great vessels, the fishing boats,
after a hard day hauling oysters from the reefs,
they swayed in the dank wind, sad gulls
swooped past and called the fishermen
alien names; Juan, Pablo and Miguel, names not
foreign to their waiting wives – hard working women
fashioned in colorful skirts blowing tight against their legs,
their thick raven curls playing in the hard wind,
wearing cotton coats too thin to keep out the cold.

They smiled soulful joy at one another, towing
children too young for school, wondering if three dollars
for each burlap bag, bulging with oysters, was enough to feed the kids,
pay rent, buy a christening dress – as new babies were coming to some.
Time locks them in textures of Sisyphus survival and
curses, cheers and raw cheeks and tears twine
with salty, acrid autumn chores as the men
continue to cull, clean decks and the children,
wanting to play with gulls, pull impatiently on protecting hands.

I did not speak to them, I was too lazy to learn
their language in school, now I want to know all about them.
The skies turn dark, waves toss A-framed boats
against the barnacled pier, signaling a storm, I
watch the heavens close around us, work becomes
urgent for everyone but me.

October 2012

Texas Coastal Purchase Part of Public/Private Partnership to fund conservation projects across the nation

DALLAS- Powderhorn Ranch along the Texas Gulf Coast is one of four grant recipients announced this week by Walmart’s Acres for America program. The program is considered to be one of the most effective public-private partnerships in the history of U.S. conservation efforts and was established in 2005 by the Arkansas based retail giant in collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Program goals are to conserve lands of national significance, protect critical fish and wildlife habitat and benefit people and local economies.

Acres for America began as a 10-year, $35 million commitment by Walmart to purchase and preserve one acre of wildlife habitat in the United States for every acre of land developed by the company. The program has protected critical habitats for birds, fish, plants and wildlife and has funded 59 projects in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The 2014 grants total $2,325,000, and will leverage an additional $82,936,000, for a total conservation investment of more than $85 million.

In August 2014, a multi-partner coalition announced the purchase of the 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch along the Texas coast in Calhoun County.  The acquisition conserves a spectacular piece of property that is one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled coastal prairie in the state and represents the largest conservation investment in Texas history. In years to come, Powderhorn Ranch is expected to become a state park and wildlife management area.  Project partners include The Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Foundation, NFWF, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The TPW Foundation is spearheading the fundraising for the $50 million project, which includes the purchase of the property, habitat restoration and management, as well as a long-term endowment. The $525,000 grant announced this week will go toward land acquisition costs.

“We’re thrilled at the announcement of this generous $525,000 grant, “said Anne Brown, executive director for Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. “Walmart’s Acres for America program underscores the necessity of public/private partnerships in funding transformational conservation projects that will benefit all citizens. Powderhorn Ranch is an investment that will benefit the communities nearby and the entire State of Texas. It exemplifies Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates.”

With the Acres for America grant, $43.5 of the $50 million needed for the project has been raised. Additional contributions are welcome and interested donors can contact Anne Brown at the TPW Foundation for more information at 214-364-5362 or abrown@tpwf.org.

The other projects funded by the 2014 Acres for America grant are the Hood Canal Landscape Conservation Initiative in Washington, the Lost Coast Redwood and Salmon Initiative in California and the Coastal Headwaters Forest Longleaf Conservation and Restoration project in Alabama and Florida.

For more information about the Acres for America 2014 recipients: http://www.nfwf.org/whoweare/mediacenter/pr/Pages/acres-pr-14-1112.aspx

For more information about Powderhorn Ranch:  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/news_roundup/powderhorn_ranch/

Since 1991, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Foundation has leveraged public funds with private philanthropy to advance Texas’ proud outdoor traditions and conserve our state’s wildlife, habitat, recreational areas, and natural resources.  Since its inception, the TPW Foundation has raised more than $100 million to help ensure that all Texans, today and in the future, can enjoy the wild things and wild places of Texas.

“The Way I See It” is an attempt by the guest columnist to enlighten readers on a subject, as he views it, and does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

What’s Next?

The 2014 election was a wipe-out for the Dems and Obama. Not only did the GOP win a majority in the Senate, an even larger majority in the House, and a majority of the Governorships, but larger majorities in most of the state legislatures. This is all a reflection of the voter’s rejection of Obama’s socialist Big Govt policies. But did he learn anything from this political spanking? I think not. He is threatening to go “Full Mussolini” on immigration if he can’t trick or brow-beat the Repub leadership into doing what he wants, even while all the polls indicate ‘amnesty’ is hugely unpopular, as much as 80% against. Reportedly even Hispanic males are slightly over 50% against it. They see that the competition for jobs will get worse if the border is not secured. Obama may pretend for the Media to negotiate with the new GOP Congress but it is not in his nature. He has committed to China to further reduce US “greenhouse gases’ by 25-28%, further crippling our efforts to rebuild our economy, but require nothing from the Chinese to reduce their pollution until 2030. See pics and more @: http://www.michellesmirror.com/2014/11/a-magico-l-mystery-tour.html#.VGYJ0nl0xow.  As of 11/14 Obama said his position on the Keystone pipeline is unchanged. He is planning UnConstitutional executive action on Amnesty. He is not listening, nor does he care what the People want, he has his Agenda and he is sticking to it.

ObamaCare is running off the rails. The prime architect, Jonathan Gruber, admits that they counted on the stupidity of the Voters to accept it. The Govt spends $ millions to propagandize it, lie about number of sign-ups, and stopped any release of the cost increases before the election. Another Supreme Court trial is on the horizon while the evidence against it is mounting.

Border enforcement is nonexistent. The Border Patrol catches them, and Obama orders the courts to release them. Half of the illegals caught are Other-Than-Mexican now, including an increasing number of Muslims. Also reports on UN Muslim refugee resettlement programs indicate that they intend to send 250,000 to 500,000 from Syria, Iraq, and Africa to the good old USA. Obama likes it, but he is about the only one. We really need to stop all immigration, except family members where the family can post bonds that ensure the immigrants won’t be added to the Welfare State, until the border is secure. Stop the incredibly stupid lotteries, especially in countries that hate us, and their people refuse to assimilate. After the border is secure and the criminals and groups that refuse to assimilate are deported, then we can talk about immigration reform that benefits America, not the radical socialist wing of the Democrats.

Obama may have to fire Valerie Jarrett, his senior adviser sometimes called his ‘Commie Mommie’, probable source of his worst ideas and chief stoker of his endless arrogance. This will be a very good thing. A very bad thing is the appointment of Loretta Lynch as Attorney General. She is BFF with Sharon Malone, Eric Holder’s wife, and a close friend of Holder. Obama is counting on her to be “The Gate-keeper” and prevent any worthwhile investigation into any of the many Holder malfeasances and Obama scandals. She is very pro-Amnesty, even supports Obama’s anti-Constitutional Executive Order Amnesty; favors civilian trials for jihadists; and is against Voter ID and the death penalty, and favors lighter sentences for blacks in “non-violent” crimes. She really appears as an Alinskyite Obamunist in a Govt suit. The Lib/Prog Media loves her.

The voters expect action from the new GOP Congress. First, they need to approve immediate construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. They need to stop the endless waste of money by Obama. Deport illegals, not house them in luxury resorts. Stop the endless Federal support for advertising and propagandizing of the Obamunist Agenda. Defund the National Endowments of the Arts, National Endowment of the Humanities, and PBS, they are nothing but propaganda and support for radicals. Defund Planned Parenthood, their school programs sexualize young children, encourage “experimentation” and homosexuality as well as push the abortion issue. Stop wasting money on failed “Green Energy Projects”. The Ivanpah solar plant, the world’s largest, was given a $1.6 billion Federal construction loan, now wants a $539 million Federal grant to make the payments because it only puts out about 1/4 of the advertised design capacity. Stop funding all the Global Warming crap, it was a HOAX. Stop the National Institute of Health and CDC from making anti-gun propaganda and maybe we would have effective treatment for Ebola, changas, and the host of other diseases brought here by illegal immigrants. Stop putting healthy workers on Disability to make the unemployment numbers look better. We must reduce the Welfare State, the costs have risen dramatically under Obama, and is completely unsustainable. But that was the Cloward-Pivens Strategy. Many good ideas to reduce the cost of the Federal Govt can be found in 2011’s H.R. 408 ( http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.408: ) There is much waste and ignoring bad management.

The GOP best heed the message. It is a rejection of Obamunism, giving the GOP a chance to do better. Wild Bill for America says it best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2fcbvI88m4 . I also strongly recommend http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell111114.php3 “What Happened?” by Thomas Sowell.

We are living in some of the busiest times of our lives! There are meetings, trips, school activities, and church. Sometimes it is hard to figure exactly how to prioritize all these things, but when we choose J-O-Y, we will always get it right. J stands for Jesus – seek first God’s things and He will help us with the rest. O stands for others – always be on the lookout for how we can help another on his journey, making his pathway easier or making his pathway more correct. Y stands for yourself – we surely have our lives to live, but when we seek the good for God and others, we find that “best things” will come our way!

We have added a weekly activity to our busy schedule at the Chapel. Pastor Joane is leading us in “Corporate Prayer” at 5:00 p.m. each Sunday evening. It has proven to do exactly what we have been promised – when God’s people pray, God shows up! Everyone is welcome to come and be a part of a genuine prayer meeting.

We will be distributing our Thanksgiving Baskets for those who have already signed up on Tuesday, November 25. Each family will be called to come and receive their basket from the Chapel. These food items are provided by many different people and organizations in this community. I am sure that my list is incomplete, but as of this moment, special thanks must go to the Ladies Service Club for their generous donation in which we will be providing Thanksgiving turkeys for each basket. We also can say thanks to the three community churches whose congregants have brought canned goods. I am sure that we will be learning of other donations and I will be sharing them in the next Dolphin Talk edition.

Our Thanksgiving Community Celebration, hosted by St. Joseph Catholic Church, was a grand event. The date was changed this year so that our Catholic community could participate – they have another event scheduled in Port Lavaca on our traditional date. But, we knew it would not be Thanksgiving unless all of us got together and celebrated THANKFULLY as one! Thanks to all who were involved in the planning and who served us during this special time of the year.

The Chapel will have a special Thanksgiving Eve service on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 7:00 p.m. There will be special singing and time for old-fashion “testimonials”! Everyone is invited to attend this special event and we’ll be praying for those who choose to participate in “Black Thursday” or “Black Friday”, or both!

BUT, in the middle of all your Thanksgiving activities on Thanksgiving Day, please take time to say “Thanks” to God for His special blessings upon us! It would be easy for all of us to complain about many things in our lives, but, please set those aside for a while and concentrate on the blessings you have received.

We barely get through with Thanksgiving until it is time for us to turn our thoughts to Christmas! We have many Christmas activities already planned. On December 1, we will be traveling to Edna for a great Christmas party with area churches. On December 12, we will be going to Port Lavaca for a Christmas Dinner. On December 16, we will be distributing our Community Christmas Baskets for needy families (the deadline to sign up is December 10). On December 21, the Chapel will have its traditional Christmas Party with all its different ways to celebrate! On December 24, we will be hosting a Christmas Eve come and go Communion Service. There are a lot of opportunities to help us celebrate the reason for this season – Jesus’ Birthday!

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation who welcomes all to come and praise the Lord with us in our unique way. We believe that there is a need for all three churches in this community because our churches are different – and we celebrate our differences, but our oneness, which is in Jesus Christ! You will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel and are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

Este mes queremos dar gracias a nuestro Dios por todo lo que el a echo por nosotros. El es digno de toda alabanza y gloria de parte de sus hijos que somos nosotros. Jesus su hijo, es nuestra salvacion, y El Espiritu Santo es nuestro guia. Nuestro padre celestial nos a dado este gran regalo en que nosotros podemos vivir una vida con gozo y alegria. Dele gracias a el y vera que su gran amor sera visto en usted y en su familia. Que Dios los bendiga y los llene de bendiciones. Salmo 23 versiculo 1, Jehova es mi pastor y nada me faltara. Su hermano en Cristo.

Jesse C. Alderete, Fisherman’s Chapel, 361-482-9485